Gassaway Dairy Queen

Another case of a HDJ that makes us wait until Spring, I had waited since last November for the the Gassaway Dairy Queen to reopen because I had heard from readers that is was the best place to get a hot dog in all of Braxton County. One of those readers emailed me recently to let me know it had opened and so I scheduled a trip with my wife to her favorite place, Everything Fiesta, and timed my departure from Charleston to insure I was passing the I79 Sutton/Gassaway exit just about lunchtime.

Finding the DQ is no problem. It sits just before the bridge into downtown Gassaway about 3 miles from the interstate, and it looks just like a typical Dairy Queen. Fortunately its hot dogs don't taste like typical DQ hot dogs.

My reader told me that this DQ doesn't adhere to the DQ chili norm, and that was evident from the first whiff. DQ "Coney Sauce" has a distinctive odor, er I mean aroma, and this hot dog gave off a wonderful bouquet. It was ulfactorily evident that tomatoes were a big part of this chili, and the color made it clear that it had been carefully and properly cooked. Little specks of red floating in the sauce made me think there were real chilis involved in the production of this stuff, not just chili powder. The texture and taste of the chili was as nice as the smell.

The slaw was rather coarsely chopped, but the cabbage was tender so it didn't matter. A nicely sweet taste was the only flavor I could detect. Pretty good, especially sitting on a perfectly steamed bun like this one.

I have to mention the weenie: It was small. The diameter was much smaller than average, but since it made room for more of the scrumptious chili and slaw, I didn't miss the heft much. It tasted fine and seemed to be grilled.

Oh, by the way, "everything" includes ketchup, mustard, chil, slaw and onions (enough with the ketchup already!).

Overall the Gassaway DQ gets a 4 1/2 Weenie rank.

Late night WV hot dogz at Sheetz

Some of you will no doubt be wondering why on earth I'm reviewing this chain when so many better HDJ's exist in North Central WV. The reason is actually quite simple: by virtue of my 'new job' I've been keeping ever more odd hours. So, I set out to see where one is to go at 2AM for a WVHD. I found out, strangely enough, you can go to a Pennsylvania based business to fill that burning desire.

For the uninitiated: Sheetz, based in Altoona, PA, is a convenience/gas store with about 300 locations in PA, OH, MD, VA, NC and WV (furthest south in WV is Weston, IIRC). They offer a variety of "Made to order (tm)" subs and sandwiches (which the customer orders by a touchscreen terminal[some locations even have order screens at the pumps!], making the items EXTREMELY customizable) as well as a large fountain drink section, coffee and cappuccino selection and, more recently, self service milkshake makers (which are surprisingly tasty).

So, what about the dogz? You can get them with an assortment of toppings, from cheese to mayo (I opted for neither, going for the traditional WVHD combination of mustard, onion, chili/sauce and slaw). The wiener was lightly browned by virtue of being cooked on one of those continuously rolling grillers. The bun was straight out of the bag and cold. To this was added mustard and onion (which tasted surprisingly fresh for 2AM) some variety of canned chili/coney sauce and a prepackaged/refrigerated slaw. Given the, apparently, standardized toppings, I imagine there is not much variation from location to location.


In the case of Sheetz' Hot Dogz this would seem to be an unfortunate thing. The wiener, while grilled, was more than a little over cooked (not burnt, but cooked to the point where it had about the same consistency of boiled shoe leather). The slaw seemed overly creamy (almost to the point of slimey) with no sweetness and minimal flavor, it offered no synergy to the experience. The out of the can chili, seemed to be akin to one of the less expensive, canned varieties, with small chunks of the meaty substance sitting in a chili-like sauce, like the slaw I found it lacking in flavor. While the dogz initially come in as some of the cheapest I've ever had at 2 for $0.99, some toppings cost extra: chili adds $0.15 per dog and slaw is $0.39, cheese is an additional charge as well, should you feel so inclined (thus removing price as a potentially pivotal purpose to partake).

While this is the only retail option I've found for a WVHD at 2AM, I have to think/hope there are other/better options for late-night sustenance. Even with 0.5 weenie bonus for being 1) a PA based company offering a WVHD and 2) having them available 24h a day, they still only manage a 1.5 weenie rating.

"What'll Ya' Have, What'll Ya' Have?" - A WV Weenie Wonk Visits The Varsity in Atlanta

When I found out in November that I would be traveling to Atlanta for a meeting in April, I immediately made my plans to visit one of the most famous HDJs in all the world: The Varsity. I intentionally arranged flight times so I could make my visit as soon as I got to town in case a second or third trip was in order. I hit town at 2:00 and as soon as I dropped my bags in my room I was off on the 2 mile urban hike to the 61 North Avenue, the site of the "World's Biggest Drive In."

Having seen The Varsity featured in the PBS documentary "A Hot Dog Show" years ago, and having seen Mathew McConaughey as coach Jank Lengyl eating a hot dog there with a recruiting prospect in "We Are Marshall", I thought I knew what to expect, but no, this place is cooler than I imagined. And bigger. The whole place still looks like it must have looked when it opened in 1928. Art Deco chrome, tile and and mirrors make the acoustics lively and tends to amplify the din of the customers and the order takers: All part of the fun. One thing that has surely been added in latter years is the gift shop where you can by t-shirts and other assorted Varsity novelties. You can even buy a coffee table book about the restaurant's history. An ice cream shop shares space with the gift shop.

The restaurant is cut up into several sections and dining rooms. Some have TVs, some are designated non-smoking rooms and some are for the fast eaters who just want a place to sit their Coke while they eat their hot dogs standing up. The main ordering area for inside dining is at a counter that is probably 150' long, behind which are the order takers who whenever they make eye contact with a customer shout "What'll Ya Have?" If there is not an immediate response (and I mean immediate) then the order taker shouts louder "WHAT'LL YA' HAVE, WHAT'LL YA' HAVE!?" If this happens to you I dare you to not be intimidated into ordering whatever pops into your head.

Now one thing the varsity is famous for is "Slaw Dogs." Of course, slaw dogs are what a lot of people incorrectly call West Virginia Hot Dogs, so I was eager to come down and set the record straight on the difference. So when the order taker asked me "What'll ya' have?" I didn't hesitate long enough to get the second level request, I confidently said "Two Slaw Dogs with chil, mustard and onions - and a Coke." (It's Atlanta, ya' gotta have a Coke or they run you out of town.)

When I got my Slaw Dogs they looked really good: Piled high with gorgeous slaw and heavy with chili. I couldn't wait to find a table and photo-document my order so I could dig in. When I did finally dig in I was surprised. I had always imagined slaw this far south would be very sweet, but it is just barely. The chili had a really interesting flavor; kind of complex but barely spicy. The weenie was very good, kind of red like a Chicago dog but smaller, and it had a good flavor. I couldn't tell how it was cooked but I'd imagine lightly grilled from the taste of it. The bun was soft either from light steaming or because it was very, very fresh. But the mustard is what is really different at The Varsity.

Wow, this stuff is tart! And instead of yellow, it has a brown tint to it. It is served on the table in squeeze bottles that must hold nearly a half-gallon of the suff. I think they are proud of it, but to my West Virginia tastebuds it overpowered the whole hot dog so much that wish I'd had ordered without mustard.

So what's the difference between a Varsity Slaw Dog and a WVHD? Primarily it's all about attitude: A real WVHD has slaw on purpose, and a properly executed WVHD has slaw that is intentionally complimentary of the chili, not an afterthought. But The Varsity has done a pretty good job acheiving this complimentary relationship. Overall, if this place was back home and I was giving it an official Weenie score, I think I'd give it a solid 4 Weenie rank, maybe 4.5 including points for atmosphere.

It's not a Podcast, it's a Dogcast!

Never one to buck a fad or a trend, I have decided that this blog needs to do a podcast. What could be more fun than a podcast about hot dogs? Nothing! So click here and listen to the very first WVHotDogs.com Dogcast: Fifteen minutes of pure infotainment!

In this edition:

- Hasil Adkins

- Reader Mail
- Sarah from Slawless Wheeling (oh lighten up, it's a JOKE!)
- Ralph from Florida (Chris' and Bowling Alley Hot Dogs)

- A Classic Hot Dog Jingle from Yesteryear

- A hat tip to our statewide Weenie Wonks, Chris and Kevin
(with a quick revisit Stanton's view of Yann's)

- A couple of new reviews - audio version

Let us know what you think! email us: info at wvhotdogs dot com


(if you require an mp3 version, right click and save this link)

Fairmont is where its Att's

Many Fairmont locals will, no doubt, recognize this eatery. If not now, since it has changed hands, then perhaps when it was B&L Hot Dogs(I believe I am recalling the name correctly) Located across from what was previously East Fairmont High School, it once served as a popular lunchtime location for the students (East Fairmont HS was probably one of the last schools to have an open campus, thus affording students the opportunity to eat somewhere other than the dreaded cafeteria). The current occupant of this location is Att's Place. The interior is largely as I remember it. Though now it is stylized with NASCAR decoration. There is table seating for about 18 and bar seating for 6 or so.

Offering an assorted menu of road foods including hotdogs, hamburgers, bbq, nachos etc. The primary focus of this eatery is true to the location, hotdogs. Att's serves them up with an assortment of toppings, from the usual fair to the nacho dog. So as to not impose on the nachodog review site, I will keep our attention focused on the WVHD offerings.

The construction of this dog follows the familiar Fairmont formula: basic, boiled wiener+steamed bun+Mustard, onion and chili/sauce. As seems the new trend, it should come as little surprise that Att's serves up a WVHD, slaw is a little extra, but is an option nonetheless. While it seems hard to go wrong with such a combination, with most other HDJ's having a near identical methodology, it puts greater weight on the toppings to set the various vendors apart.

The sauce/chili at Att's seemed uninspired to me, lacking in complex or interesting flavors. Complete with what seemed to be a faint taste of tomato product, most likely due to a 'quick' preparation method. This taste would most likely be blended sufficiently with the other ingredients to be unrecognizable in more simmered sauce. The slaw here seems to have been made more for the purpose of a side dish rather than as a WVHD topping. While the size and texture was proper, it lacked any notable sweetness and had an over abundant portion of carrots; such that when tasted alone, the carrot taste was distinctly evident. The onions were fresh and, like the mustard, were applied in an appropriate amount.

Given that slaw doesn't seem to be a 'normal' topping here, some day to day variation is to be expected. The same may be true for the chili as well, but.... In the end I can only review the sample I have. Which I find unfortunate, as incremental attention to topping details could easily make a respectable WVHD. Att's brings home a 2.5 Weenie rating.

Ramps and Hot Dogs

First, you've got to check out Charles' post about ramps over at the Charlestonian Blog.

Have you read that? OK, then. Last year I joked about coming up with a recipe for ramps on hot dogs. Little did I know it had been done. I got a photo from a reader yesterday of the menu board at "Bob's Hot Dogs" near Elkins and lo and behold, there on the menu, among a myriad of special hot dogs, is a "Ramp Dog."

As Charles writes, ramps really have a bad reputation and I agree that it's totally undeserved. Yeah, they stink a little, but they have one of the best flavors of any onion-like plant I've ever tasted. I am making plans to head to Bob's for a Ramp Dog. Anybody with me?

A Couple of Charleston HDJ Items

Today's Gazette has an article about the closure of the 2nd floor snack bar at the Judicial Annex. It seems that some want to replace the snack bar with vending machines. I don't have a dog in the fight, but elected officials need to pay attention: Don't get between a West Virginian and their hot dogs. This snack bar has some very good hot dogs and there will be a backlash if it goes away. You have been warned. Of course, people in the Annex can always go across the street for a hot dog.

In other news, WCHS TV has had an ongoing series about restaurants that have received bad ratings from the health department. "Behind the Kitchen Door" as the segment is called, takes great pleasure in drawing attention to those restaurants that are caught with unsanitary conditions. There are, evidently, a lot of them around.

With this in mind I want to draw your attention to the fact that one of our best HDJs recently scored a perfect rating from the health department: The Swiftwater Cafe on Washington Street. Congratulations, Teddy & staff!

Charleston Hot Dog Joint Review - The Chop House

Ask anyone where the most expensive restaurant in Charleston is and they are liable to tell you it's The Chop House, and they are liable to be right. This extremely hoity-toity restaurant located in The Town Center Mall is known for its $30 appetizers and $40 entrees and pricey sides like $8 steamed broccoli. It is a fancy eatin' place if ever Charleston had one.

So imagine my surprise when I went out for a nice birthday dinner and found on the menu a real, live West Virginia Hot Dog. The "Haughty Deauxg," as it is called, has a typically Chop House sized weenie that weighs in at a hefty 1 lb. 4 ounces (before cooking) and a bun that is nearly the size of a small loaf of Wonder Bread. On top of the weenie is a huge helping of great tasting chili (only they call it "sauce de' chili") and a big serving of "Koohlsla"(which tastes exactly like slaw to me). A mustard-like substance and onions that had been shaved into little curly-cues finished it off perfectly.

Now I had my tastebuds set for some filet mignon, but after seeing the Haughty Deauxg on the menu I simply had to try it. I'm glad I did. First of all, it tasted great. It was so big that I ate half of it and took the rest home for lunch the next day and I didn't have to order anything else to complete my meal. At $22.50 it is certainly the most expensive hot dog I have seen but it was truly worth it. And it was much cheaper than the $35 filet I intended to order.

I really wish I had brought my camera because this thing has to be seen to be believed, but alas, you'll just have to take my word for it or go try one yourself. Easily a Five-Weenie rating for this fantastic hot dog that is absolutely worth getting dressed up for.

If you're going to The Chop House, make sure you have reservations. They are especially busy most holidays, especially April Fools Day.

Charleston Area HDJ Review - Lil' Huskey's Ice Cream Shoppe

Don't you just love Spring? The trees begin their budding and the mild temperatures make outside the place to be. And then there's the re-opening of those certain roadside ice cream stands that have been closed down since just before Thanksgiving. And whenever there is a roadside dairy bar there is a pretty good chance there are good hot dogs, too.

I first tried to visit Lil' Huskey's in Cross Lanes last November to no avail. I wasn't sure when to go back because the sign only said "Closed 'till Spring." Well, according to the calendar it is now Spring, and the weather sure fits, so I thought I'd check it out again. This time I was greeted by a neon "open" sign.

I think that I read that Lil' Huskey's is somehow familially connected with Huskey's Dairy Bar in North Charleston, but certainly Lil' Huskey's is much newer and nicer than its city cousin. It has a nice little dining room where 20 or so diners can sit and a couple of umbrella shaded tables outside for those who prefer their hot dogs alfresco.

The hot dogs are fairly reminiscent of the other Huskey's, though, and that would be a good thing.

The Hot Dog: Chili, slaw, mustard and onions are standard equipment at Lil' Huskey's. My bun was fresh but not steamed. The slaw was great: Fine cut, creamy and nicely sweet. The chili had a great flavor with just a little spicy kick; the texture was nice. The onions were nicely chopped but seemed to be a bit stronger than they needed to be. Overall, though, this is a darn good hot dog. I'll give it a 4.5 Weenie rating, the same rating as the other Huskey's earned last year.

The service was friendly and the ice cream treats on the menu are tempting. The hours are posted as "Monday-Saturday 11AM to PM" with the PM number conspicuously missing, so call ahead (304- 776-2561) before making a special trip late in the PM.

Lil' Huskey's is a quarter mile down Little Tyler Mountain Road (Washington Street West or Rt. 62 if you are looking at a map) from "The Stoplight" in Cross Lanes.

Charleston HDJ Review - Sam's Hot Dog Stand - Hale Street

The now former radio talk show host, Jerry Waters, told me at our recent rendezvous at Chris' that he preferred Sam's Hot Dogs on Hale Street to any HDJ in town. I told him that I have never had a really good hot dog from there and he implored me to try again. So I did.

This time I opted for the "hot" version. It was much better than any I had eaten there before. The chili has a nice little kick (although nothing like what Marion Countians call a "kick") and the slaw is creamy and a little bit sweet (although nothing like folks in southern WV call "sweet"). The bun was lightly steamed (although nothing like what folks in central WV called "steamed") and pretty fresh (although nothing like what Huntingtonians call "fresh").

The one thing that remained exactly the same, though, as on my previous visits was that the weenie was completely waterlogged. This was my major complaint with this Sam's location before and I have since found this same trait at other Sam's locations.

But in spite of the waterlogged weenie I will admit to Jerry that this hot dog is a couple of cuts above the average. If the weenie were better I'd give Sam's Hale Street another half-Weenie, but a 4 Weenie rating is all I can earnestly award right now.

Charleston HDJ - Diana's Capitol Street Cafe

Last June I panned the hot dogs sold in a place called Diana's Snack Bar. In that review I noted the futility of selling hot dogs next door to the Swiftwater Cafe. Someone must have agreed because in mid-January Diana's pulled up stakes and moved about a half block East and a half block to the South on Capitol Street.

The new place is much larger, brighter and roomier with seating for 12 people or so.

I know that I often insist on a steamed bun, and that is my absolute preference to be sure, but I can also appreciate a grilled New England Style bun or an oven-toasted bun like they serve at Diana's. My bun was definitely right out of the oven and was just about perfectly toasted. The dreaded hot dog coffin it came served in kept the toasted bun in good shape. The chili was decent, nothing to write home about, but not bad. The slaw was sweet and creamy. The onions were finely minced and piled on in a large helping, but I couldn't help but think how much they looked and tasted like the reconstituted onions that McDonald's puts on their regular hamburgers.

Now in case you don't remember, the last hot dog I had at Diana's didn't even get a rating. But in their new location, Diana's gets a solid 3 1/2 Weenie ranking. Definitely a candidate for the most improved hot dog. With better onions and a little more interesting chili it could easily get another half Weenie.

Charleston HDJ Review - OH! Grandy's Deli

An alert reader sent me a message about a new hot dog joint, Grandy's Deli, she had read about in the Kanawha City Consumer Guide. I was doubly surprised because I had never heard of the publication before and I hadn't heard of any new HDJs opening up.

The next day I was sitting in the waiting room of a local governmental agency and I spied a copy of the aforementioned guide sitting on the table, complete with a large color photo of a genuine looking WVHD on the front page. I decided that this was a sign that I needed to high-tail it on over to Grandy's.

When I arrived at the address my reader had sent me, I was somewhat surprised to find that it is the former site of Mr. C's Hot Dogs. I say "somewhat surprised" because even though I had predicted last year that Mr. C's was on its way out, but I was not aware that anything had taken its place.

The name in the window reads "OH! Grandy's Deli". Inside the place looks like it's been painted and a few little decorative touches have been added, but overall it looks pretty much the same as Mr. C's. The menu is much the same, as best as I recall, right down to the optional yellow slaw. I was eager to see if the hot dogs were as tasty.

Everything includes chili, slaw, mustard, onions and (sigh) ketchup. I opted for no ketchup, of course. My dog came wrapped in aluminum foil even though it was an eat-in order. The bun was not steamed, but it was warm. I couldn't tell if it was warm from being wrapped in foil with the weenie and chili or if it had been warmed before it was put there. The bun was OK. The chili was pretty good; faintly spicy and with good texture, but it could stand to be cooked longer or hotter. The slaw was coarsely chopped but had enough dressing to make it almost runny. It tasted great; very sweet and a little tart. Maybe a hint of peppers in there somewhere. Next time I think I'll try the yellow slaw.

I'm going to give Grandy's hot dogs a 4 Weenie rating.

Overall a nice little corner HDJ in an upper Kanawha City neighborhood that needs a little eatery. Their current hours are 10-4PM, but I'm not sure about weekends. They can be found at 660 MacCorkle Avenue SE, right across from Galaxy Lanes.

Marmet HDJ Review - Sam's Hot Dog Stand

I erred when I wrote that the Malden location of Sam's was the furthest eastward outpost of this chain. Marmet is across the Kanawha River and few miles further east. I stumbled across this Sam's on the way back from Drawdy and I thought I should stop to see if the diversity we have found at Sam's locations would be continued here. It is.

The building is tiny and cramped, made even more so by the existence of a gambling room behind a smoked glass door (this is the second Sam's location that has a backroom gambling room. Interesting combination, hot dogs and video lottery) .

The first thing about this Sam's that was different was that they have only a "Hot Dog" listed on the menu. No "English Dog." No choice of mild or spicy chili. No "healthy dog" choice. Just a hot dog. I must observe that this chain is way more varied in its locations than any other franchised restaurant I've encountered.

But the "Hot Dog" was OK. Actually, it was better than OK, it was quite good. Compared to the Malden location, the weenie is better (not as waterlogged), but the chili isn't quite as good. As a result we're going to stick with the 4 Weenie rating for the Marmet location.

Welcome, Logan Banner Readers!

The Logan Banner has a story in today's edition about WVHotDogs.com, and more particularly our review of Morrison's Drive Inn .

Thanks to author Martha Sparks and the rest of the Logan Banner folks! Check out the paper's website; it's first-class.

Boone County HDJ - Shirley's Pioneer Drive In

It was last Summer I got the first email suggestion to try the hot dogs at Pioneer Drive In in Drawdy. I had no idea where Drawdy was, so I wrote the reader back and asked her. She said it was just a hoot and a holler from Peytona. I had heard of Peytona, and I was pretty sure I had been there, but once again, I needed clarification: "Peytona is just a little piece from Racine," was the reply. Oh, I know where Racine is. It's just over Len's Creek Mountain from Hernshaw, which is just out Rt. 94 from a few miles from Marmet. Everybody knows where Marmet is.

It took a while to carve out the time for a trip over to Drawdy, but I got several more emails about it in the mean time, and my interest - and my hunger - was piqued. I finally made the trip.

Now I gotta admit, when I heard "Pioneer Drive In" I had wondered what kind of drive in there would be on Rt3 clear over in Boone County. I couldn't imagine a place with curb service that far off the beaten path (heck, I couldn't imagine a place with curbs that far off the beaten path). Still though, when I finally made it to Drawdy and rounded the curve nearest the Pioneer, I actually zipped right by the place because it doesn't look like a drive-in whatsoever. What it looks like is a typical roadside beer joint. It is a white cinderblock building with peeling and fading paint and a line drawing of a Conestoga wagon on one side. Two signs give conflicting information about the name of the place: One hangs from the side of the building and says "Shirley's Bar and Grill" and the one in the wagon drawing says "Pioneer Drive In." So for the record we'll call it "Shirley's Bar and Grill at Pioneer Drive In" (ala "Oriole Park at Camden Yards" or "University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field"); "SB&G@PDI" for short.

Inside, the SB&G@PDI is much more interesting. It has a few tables, a big screen TV, a pool table and a full bar. A hand written mixed drink menu on a piece of poster board hangs from the refrigerator in the bar that lists prices for White Russians, Pina Coladas, Fuzzy Navels, Sloe Screws, etc. Delightfully unrefined and unpretentious. On each table sits a galvanized bucket of peanuts. Another menu board on the wall lists the food items, chief among these, and in first position on the board, are hot dogs.

I wasn't surprised to find that "everything" means chili, slaw, mustard, onions and ketchup. I have really had a run recently of ketchup laden HDJs. I opted out of the red stuff and ordered two hot dogs with everything else. It took quite a while to get my order, but it was worth every second of the wait.

When my dogs arrived they were warm, soft and wrapped in wax paper. The buns were so nicely steamed that the actually conformed to the shape of my hand when I picked them up.
Unwrapping the first dog, I was treated to a marvelous bouquet of "Essence of WVHD" that made my mouth water. The first bite made me realize why readers had pointed me in this direction. Every part of the hot dog was great and nearly perfectly executed. The only thing I could possibly nit-pick would be that the chili could be a little more spicy and complex, but it tasted fine and was perfect in texture. The slaw was very, very good and served in a heapin' helpin'. The onions were sweet and carefully chopped. A great hot dog.

I'm going to give the SB&G@PDI hot dog a 4 1/2 Weenie rating. The dog is not quite a 5 on its own merits, and the place doesn't really make up for the difference with its atmosphere. But a 4 1/2 is nothing to be ashamed of. So far it is the best hot dog I've found in Boone County.

Putnam County Hot Dog Joint: Hittin' the Ground Runnin' at Sam's Hot Dog Stand--Teays Valley

A little taste of Huntington has recently opened in a strip mall along Teays Valley Road: a new establishment that is a franchisee of both Monty's Pizza and Sam's Hot Dog Stand. While I will pass on Monty's Pizza (give me Pizza Hut, Hussons, Lorenzo's (RIP soon), Graziano's, or Gino's first), I am a complete mark for Sam's hot dogs, so I knew I'd have to check this place out at some point. I have heard that individual Sam's locations can vary dramatically in quality, especially the further east one traveled, and I wanted to see if this location was more 8th Street or Charleston.

Much to my surprise, Sam's-Teays Valley is doin' right by the Sam's Hot Dog Stand brand.

I was taken aback at first by the $1.49 per dawg price point. That is about a quarter more per weenie than usual, but nothing too shocking like over at The Hottest Dog.

The friendly dog jerk (or is it dog tender? or maybe dog artisan?) got right to work on the assembly station and insisted on making me another dog when I commented to myself that I had forgotten to ask for spicy sauce. Friendly service is always a great way to win repeat customers (and brownie points from weenie critics).

The dog had all of the usual components of a Sam's dog: the spicy sauce, the uber-chopped (if slightly dry) slaw, and a Huntington-fresh bun. However, it can be said that ol' boy hooked me up, big time. He added sauce and slaw by the shovelful, really piling it on. Lots of great tasting toppin's also make me happy. While I'm not saying that this guy is quite up their with Yann and the guy from 8th St, but he sure knows how to dress a dog.

The atmosphere was pretty cool, too. It was kind of cramped, but it was arraigned much like many of the cramped restaurants in small towns throughout West Virginia that have served up some of the best fast food anywhere. Furthermore, the fact that the place is also a pizza joint helps sell a trip to get some great hot dogs to those that are insisting on something other than good hot dogs (ie Northern Panhandlers).

While I reserve the right ot re-review this joint after it has settled in for a few months, right now I have to give this place 4.5 weenies. It is the single best example in terms of atmosphere and toppin's-hookup at a Sam's Hot Dog Stand (my favorite chain) and should be honored as such. Hopefully, they can keep it up.

Huntington Hot Dog Joint: 5th Ave. Dairy Queen

As Stanton so thouroughly proved last September, many Dairy Queens in West Virginia put their own unique spin on their hot dogs by peppering up their coney sauce, grilling the weenies, or doing something to distinguish their dawgs from the DQ five miles up the road.

The Dairy Queen on 5th Ave in the Highlawn neighborhood of Huntington is not one of those DQs.

Honestly, I was tempted not not write a review at all for the joint and instead just list some links to past reviews of sub-standard DQ dogs and let our smart and savvy reader base figure out what I was trying to say. But, after checking my contract, I learned in the fine print that if I should ever write a half-arsed review I would have to wear a T shirt that reads "Charleston deserves 7 delegates and Don Nehlen doesn't eat only apple sauce while playing Scrabble because he has absolutely no problem with choking during games." In order to avoid breaking the 9th Commandment (8th in Catholicism) and to get paying for all of that lettering, I will instead give a real review a go.

Basically, the dog suffered from having the same corporate-issued weenie and sauce that DQ imposes on its franchisees. Although the 5th Ave DQ advertised a new all-beef weenie that was 25% larger than before, the upgrade was barely noticeable at all. I guess if anything, it was like getting a hot dog from the Phillips Academy cafeteria instead of Richwood High School's lunch room (props to Oncee). Industrial grade all the way. Same for the sauce: you could almost taste the aluminum from the freshly-opened can that it had been resting within for months.

All was not lost, however. The grilled New England-style bun was a nice touch and the slaw was actually quite good, if not entirely dissimilar to Ballard's slaw.

Overall, the 5th Ave DQ gets 3 weenies. Not too bad if you are already going there for Blizzards and Moolattes, but not by any means a destination dog. This rings especially true considering that Stewart's Original is three blocks to the west and a Sam's is two blocks to the east.

Charleston Hot Dog Joint Review - The Blossom Dairy

It's probably near criminal to call The Blossom Deli a Hot Dog Joint. And it's also probably just as criminal to compare the hot dog they sell with those found at places like Dairy Queen, but hey, it's my blog.

The Blossom Deli, in it's current form, opened in 1994 when owner Bill Sohovich moved back to Charleston and decided to open a restaurant. Thousands of happy diners are even happier that he did. It is consistently one of the best restaurants in Charleston and Bill's other restaurant, Soho's, is one of the other best that Charleston has to offer.

The Blossom is a little bit schizophrenic. Each day the lunch crowd jams the Art Deco booths and bar stools. The beautiful old marble-lined walls and domed ceiling tend to amplify the din of the diners until it reaches a point that makes interpersonal communication nearly impossible. The menu consists of a nice selection of impeccably prepared sandwiches and salads, a Soup du Jour and an honest to goodness Blue Plate Special. The prices are quite reasonable and the whole place just seems to have a casual elegance that makes it a really nice place to have lunch.

But when the sun sinks low in the sky The Blossom really puts on The Ritz. The white linen table cloths come out, as do the flower vases and candles on each table. No one sits at the counter, and no one sitting at tables wear blue jeans. The chatter is much more subdued, allowing the cool jazz playing in the background to come through loud and clear. Seafood and pasta take the place of sandwiches and the price of your visit goes up substantially.

But whatever time of day you go, you will find out that Chef Bill knows his stuff. He also knows his clientele. And that is where we begin with our hot dog review.

Bill is a native Charlestonian, he is a fabulous gourmet chef and he makes hot dogs: You can do the math and figure out what a Blossom Hot Dog must be like. But for those who are mathematically challenged, allow me to interpret.

First of all, it's big. The weenie is one of those Chicago Big Red style all-beef versions that requires a bun much larger than a typical WVHD to contain it. If you eat normally order two hot dogs at your favorite WVHD Joint, you will only need to order one at The Blossom. This is a good thing because at $3.50 it is more than double the price of a typical WVHD. Now some gourmet chefs might take a big ol' hot dog like this and cover it gourmet toppings to make it a little more, well, gourmet. But not Chef Bill. No, here is a native Charlestonian that hasn't lost touch with his culinary roots: What is "Everything"? Chili, slaw, mustard and onions. But like the rest of the hot dog it is served in large portions and like the rest of The Blossom's offerings, it is unbelievably good.

The chili is thick & meaty and loaded with a rich chili powder-induced slow burn. The slaw is nothing terribly fancy but very good and served in proportion to the rest of the giant dog. The only thing that tips you off as to the "gourmet" nature of this dog is the very pretty minced Red Bermuda onions that add a colorful touch to the presentation and a little more spice for the taste buds.

Put it all together and you have a big hot dog that looks great and tastes as good as it looks. It is a satisfying meal by itself and the atmosphere of The Blossom makes all the more satisfying. I am going to give this hot dog a Five Weenie rating, but it really should have an asterisk that alerts people to the fact that this is not a typical WVHD or a typical WVHD Joint. On flavor alone, it wouldn't quite make a Five. But still, it's a unique WVHD experience that you really should try if you have the opportunity.

New Name, Same Taste - The Hound House in Culloden

A coworker told me about a new hot dog place he'd seen over the weekend. He said it was on Route 60 in Culloden and it was called "The Hound House," so off I went thrilled to find a new HDJ in Culloden that could apply some market pressure on Hillbilly Hot Dogs.

You see on my previous visit to the Culloden location of the Lesage/Huntington based Hillbilly Hot Dogs I found that there was precious little to be thrilled about. The hot dogs were dull, the chili was weak and the slaw was uninspired. The decor was cool but the food was not. So I am thinking that another HDJ in the area, if it offered quality hot dogs, would force Hillbilly to step it up a much needed notch. Competition is usually a good thing.

But on my way through Culloden when I came to the place where I last saw Hillbilly's, instead I found The Hound House! I found out from the new owner that Hillbilly's has been out of business for quite some time, and that there have been two other HDJs in this building between Hillbilly's and The Hound House.

So, is the Hound House an improvement over the past tenants? Well, it's different, but I'm afraid it's not better. The slaw is a little better than Hillbilly's, but the chili isn't quite as good. The bun wasn't steamed or heated. The weenie was unremarkable. The decor that was so fun and irreverent as Hillbilly's is now just lifeless.

The Hound House does offer entertainment in the form of pool tables in the back room ($1 per game). Other than that, there's really nothing much to report about this little out of the way HDJ. As for a rating, well, since Hillbilly's garnered 3 Weenies and since The Hound House is pretty much the same, we'll leave the 3 Weenie rating in place.

Jerry Waters Radio Talk Show in Charleston

On Friday two of our local bloggers, Jackie Lantern and The Film Geek, where guests on a local AM talk show. The discussion was heavy about this blog and WVHotDogs.com. Charles live-blogged the show here.

After the show I took Jackie and The Film Geek to lunch at Chris' and they brought their new friend Jerry Waters and his producer Andy Albertini along. Now Jerry is an old Charleston boy and knows what he likes on his hot dogs and is pretty particular about how they are served. To say he didn't care for Chris' is an understatement. He railed about how the toppings didn't cover the weenie and how the bun wasn't steamed and how the onions were too hot. Regular listeners of Jerry's show know that he's not too quick to dole out compliments. 'Nuff said.

Well, in spite of Jerry's complaining about what I know is a first-class hot dog joint, I still found him to be a good guy and I really appreciated him promoting blogging and especially promoting this blog. I was eager to check my sitemeter today to see how all of the publicity had affected my traffic. Unfortunately there was no appreciable bump. I guess both of Jerry's regular listeners must've been at the doctor.

But thanks anyway, Jerry. It was fun.

Hope for the Future?

Our Fairmont Weenie Wonk, Kevin, has stumbled upon two different of HDJs in his area that offer slaw as an easy option. This is significant news because he's not been seeking out HJs that are out of phase with Marion County norms. No, this is a random sampling of Fairmont area HDJs, and while he's not found any that have slaw as a standard topping, it's a start.

If the anecdotes are correct, slaw as a hot dog topping began in the 1920's near Charleston. By 1960 all southern West Virginia HDJs were putting slaw on their hot dogs. Forty years later slaw is at least optional on hot dogs in 47 of our 55 counties. That is remarkable growth by any measure. It also reasonably predicts the certainty of an eventual statewide slaw coup.

The exception might be the panhandle counties. The Northern panhandle is a lost cause, and frankly a loss that the rest of us aren't terribly concerned about. Except for Cabela's, most West Virginian's really don't give much thought to what happens north of the Mason-Dixon line. And the Morgan, Berkley and Jefferson tri-county area might as well be its own soverignty, and probably could be with the incredible amount of tax dollars it gets from all the rich DC folks that have flocked to the area in the past ten years. With this population has come a complete corruption of any trace of West Virginia food culture that might have existed there before the exodus.

But with the panhandles excepted, the recent cracks in the Marion County anti-slaw armor identified by Kevin have given me hope that I very well might see a unified state hot dog culture in my lifetime.

As the slaw line drifts slowly north, though, I'm sad to note that the "grits line" is moving rapidly to the south. It used to be that if you stopped for breakfast along I77 anywhere south of Princeton you got grits on your plate whether or not you ordered them. Over the years I've heard reports that you now pretty much have to go well into North Carolina before you can be sure to get grits. The line is also reportedly shrinking to the north from Florida into Georgia. There are rural pockets where grits still happen, but in more populous areas grits are not standard equipment anymore. Who would have ever dreamed of a gritless south? Food trends come and go with migration, the influence of pop culture and a whole host of other factors. The times they are a changin'.

But changing for the better in West Virginia. Someday, hopefully soon, we may be able to go to Morgantown for a game and actually have a decent hotdog with slaw! Can you imagine? Or walking into Yann's and ordering a hot dog with slaw without the threat of being tossed off the bridge? Be still my heart!

I have a dream. When one day little girls from Charleston and little boys from Fairmont can meet for a hot dog in Huntington and get really good slaw on a hot dog! I see a future where "sauce" and "chili" are used interchangebly without any prejudice, and that whatever it is called it will be dark brown and spicy and not contain a trace of beans or bean paste. In that time there will be no ketchup on hot dogs, no stale buns, no waterlogged weenies! There will only be glorious manefestations of God's goodness, wrapped in wax paper and sold for a dollar a piece! Tubular manna, prepared with love. That is my dream.

Say "Amen!" somebody!

Article on M & M Dairy Bell and WVhotdogs.com

In its Wednesday, February 21 edition, the Ironton Tribune ran an article on M & M Dairy Bell receiving a 5-weenie rating from my review of the hot dog joint. I spoke with the reporter over the phone yesterday and elaborated upon why I believe that M & M is the best hot dog joint in the Huntington area.

The article also gives some background and history of the establishment and their stellar hot dog sauce.

Check it out here.

WVHDs and Academia

A particular professor at Marshall University knows that the way to a student's brain is through his or her stomach. He has given students in his course on "Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling" The following extra credit opportunity. From the syllabus, we read:

Bonus Opportunity: Many cultural differences are subtle: differences in custom, ritual and practice can occur even in small geographical areas, among groups that are otherwise very similar. West Virginia is a great example of an area where the population shares broad commonalities (in race, ethnicity, religious faith and customs and education, for example) while having very subtle—yet important—differences in language and lifestyle.

One example of this difference is how WV views the hot dog. How the hot dog is perceived as a meal and the language that is used to describe the condiments put on it are unique to the area, and may be very different according to which region of the state the hot dog is made. Those differences may well be the result of economics, heritage and familial customs or rural isolation.

Or, they may simply be because that’s how people like a good hot dog!

35 bonus points will be awarded for a three-page, typed essay on the topic:
The West Virginia Hot Dog: Regional Differences, and Why They Exist.

He also promised the students additional bonus points if they could convince me to publish the essay, in full or an excerpt, on this blog. So, with that long introduction, I present to you portions of the first such essay I have received, from Donna G. Christian:

The hot dog is known to many West Virginians as a quick inexpensive meal. For others it is equivalent to a steak. If given a choice between a hot dog and a steak, many choose hot dog. Why is it this way? I will give some thoughts and history on the hot dog that might explain the why.

The reason I think hot dogs mean different things in different counties of West Virginia has a lot to do with economics, family customs and rural isolation. But most importantly they just taste good. Some say hot dogs are an everyday event while others have hot dog on special occasions. The reason there is a difference in chili sauce and sauce is what each county traditionally became accustom too. Generation after generation has served their idea of what should or should not go on the hot dog, and it has carried over with each generation in every county.
As one gets older usually their taste buds change. But most everyone still loves a hot dog and is nostalgic when eating one. In my case it reminds me of being young, having lots of friends and family over. This is what I reminiscence about when I eat my first hot dog of the season. There is nothing like a hot dog when spring first comes. Today I could buy steak, but my family and I love the taste and the feeling we get while eating a hot dog. Normally speaking we eat more hot dogs than steak.

I, for one, am very glad that the most important issues of life in West Virginia are finally being addressed by our state's higher eduction system. Kudos, Professor!

WVHotDogs.com Store is now open!

We would be so psyched if just one person bought one of our shirts, hats or bags!

Your purchase would help keep this blog and the website going and you will look really cool.

http://www.cafepress.com/wvhotdogs

Your Friendly Neighborhood Weenie Wonks

Charleston Magazine features several local eateries in the latest issue. One of those is Chris' Hot Dogs. In the article they give some love to this blog, pointing out that Chris' received last year's Weenie Award for Best Chili and Best Hot Dog Joint.

"According to the wonks at WVHotDogs.com..." they write. Did you hear that Chris and Kevin? We are now officially known as Weenie Wonks!

Fairmont HDJ Review - Something not quite right at Wright Dawgs

Following a holiday hiatus lasting far longer than I desired, I finally bring to you: Wright Dogs, the newest player in the highly competitive hot dog vending world that is Fairmont, WV.

Some of you will, undoubtedly, recognize the exterior facade of this location. For those that don't, it is located in the old Dog House abode. If you visited the Dog House, you will recognize significant changes inside. The kitchen area has been compressed to allow for a more traditional 'bar' seating arrangement more typical of hot dog stands. Where did this and other new ideas come from? New management, of course; a local husband and wife team, who have opened this as their first restaurant.

On with the dogs:

Firstly, we see that this is yet another WVHD from a Fairmont HDJ (clearly, a coup is taking place). While the slaw is not a standard topping (ie, it wouldn't come on an 'everything' dog), it is available. Sadly though, the slaw aficionados who frequent this site will be disappointed in this rendition. While the slaw is cut incredibly small (lending to a good texture), this seems to have resulted in the release of too much liquid from the cabbage. I found it to have minimal flavor, perhaps the faintest hint of sweetness present. Overall it was just too watery and bland to offer a complement to the rest of the dog.

An unfortunate truth, since the rest of the dog, while basic, was quite good. Consisting of a basic, bagged and lightly steamed bun; basic wiener; mustard; freshly chopped onion; all smothered under an adequate portion of meaty 'sauce' yielded a quite good dog (or dawg, as the case may be). The sauce was definitely harboring a special blend of spices, resulting in a taste that I can't say I've sampled previously. While I couldn't quite place the rogue elements within, it certainly agreed with my palate. Also agreeable were the fresh cut french fries. Seems like such a simple thing to do right, I always wonder why more places don't roll their own.

On a different hot dog review site, this dog would undoubtedly garner higher accolades. However, in the defining moment of becoming a WVHD, certain standards must be achieved. Wright Dawgs falls a little short of WVHD domination with a 3.5 wienie rating.

Charleston HDJ Review - The Comfort Station

So here we are at the second stop in our absolutely unintentional little tour of Hot Dog Joints With Unusual Names. If "Wal Rocks" wasn't enough, here we find a little hole in the wall on West Washington Street called "The Comfort Station."

Now in my experience "comfort stations" are not places you would want to eat. In fact, it would be just about the last place I would think of having lunch. So you wonder what the owners were thinking when they named this place. But then you also must immediately wonder what I was thinking when I went in looking for a hot dog. Let's just leave all the wondering aside for now, shall we?

To be honest, I saw the words "Hot Dogs" on the sign as I was driving by. I turned around and parked and it was only after I was at the front door that I saw the name of the place. It wasn't enough to stop me from going in, but I confess that if the decor inside had been Early American Outhouse I would have immediately turned around. Happily it wasn't. Instead it is an eclectic motif that is part "Urban Prairie" and part Southern charm. The two young ladies who were working the counter were delightful and eager to please.

It was, though, just about what you'd expect for an urban eatery in a working neighborhood. An old building, but clean. Friendly service and decent food. The menu is full of home-cookin' specialties like liver & onions, pork chops in gravy, fried potatoes and a full compliment of vegetables. And hot dogs.

The hot dogs were carefully made with obviously homemade slaw that was a little coarse but very sweet and tasty. The chili was a little bland but the bun was nicely steamed and that helped the overall texture of the hot dog. For $1 each it's hard to complain. "Everything" includes ketchup in addition to the chili, slaw, onions and mustard. We'll give the hot dog a 4 Weenie rating because of the steamed bun, the nice homemade slaw and the outgoing friendliness of the servers.

The Comfort Station is open Mon-Saturday 11AM to 9:00 PM. It's located at 1819 W. Washington Street just down the block from Pile Hardware.